THE GOLDEN MOMENT
Bedford to Kimbolton on the B660
In all my years as a road tester, one road ride really sticks out: a thrash though the Black Forest’s B500 in Germany on an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory. The way it seemed to turn the tarmac into velvet, the excess of front grip it offered on the way into corners, the V4 engine growl, its flawless electronics and the easy speed of it all. No road bike had ever flattered so much, or delivered such walking-on-water feeling before, or since. Until now. Just like that magnificent 1077cc Aprilia the Triumph Speed Triple RS hasn’t been conceived for the track, but created to be an exceptional road bike. Heading north out of Bedford the 1050cc triple rolls from corner to corner with ease. It belts out that same Tuono-like feeling of exceptional front grip, guiding you from full left lean to right, with complete confidence. Even riding on the edge of the tyres you feel like you could squeeze the Brembos for all they’re worth and nothing bad would happen (and it wouldn’t, thanks to cornering ABS). Although the B660 has its fair share of bumps, the Speed Triple RS seems to glide over them, almost as if it’s levitating on magnets, with total stability. It packs a superb quickshifter and autoblipper, but you rarely need the gears. Such is the grunt from the Triumph’s big triple, fifth and sixth is all you really need, with fourth every now and then for slower corners.
The RS’s soundtrack is a sadomasochistic, three-cylinder sonic assault on your ears. It belts out across the countryside and sloshes around inside your brain. The Triumph might not have Aprilia levels of power, but 148bhp is more than enough for the run into Kimbolton and it’s a whole heap more involving than 200bhp superbikes, which run on tickover unless you take them to trackdays.
On paper the new Speed Triple might not seem that different to before, but Triumph have cleverly managed to create something quite spectacular with improved electronics, a smattering of extra power and less weight.